Apparatus for packaging eggs



Nov. 4, 1941..

H. c, JOHNSON 2,261,767

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING EGGS Filed June 3, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet l 272067722 7: Harm 6 Jnffl 2607a Nov. 4, 1941.

Nov. 4, 1941. H. c. JOHNSON 2,261,767

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING EGGS Filed June 3, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q Q R 3 Earn 6 Joizmgorz a; MMZQMM Nov. 4, 1941.

H. c. JOHNSON 2,261,767 APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING EGGS Filed June 3, 1939 i0 Sheets-Sheet 4 V o 0 NM,

Nov. 4, 1941. H. c. JOHNSON APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING EGGS Filed June 3, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 MN a M /WW m L Q Hal? l3 Mama;

Nov. 4, 1941. H. c. JOHNSON 2,261,767

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING EGGS Filed June 3, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 Nov. 4, 1941. H JOHNSON 2,261,767

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING EGGS Filed June 3, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 N N m 0 kg 3 0Q 5% g a Q B "3 q x K CQQ\ Q q l I) & F Q R it a a 5 9B 8 I U I g I l k Nov. 4, 1941. H. c. JOHNSON APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING EGGS Filed June 3, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 672207 Joiz jiw Nov. 4, 1941.

H. c. JOHNSON APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING EGGS 1o Shets-Sheet 9 Filed June 3, 1939 Nov. 4, 1941. H. c. JOHNSON APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING EGGS Filed June 3, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet l0 Patented Nov. 4, 1941 APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING EGGS Harry 0. Johnson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Self- Locking Carton 00., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application June 3, 1939, Serial No. 277,219

5 Claims.

vision of a device which will automatically opena plurality of adjacent cartons for the reception of eggs and then close the cartons for delivery in a plurality of units in succession.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device which is operative to open or fold back the covers of adjacent cartons while in spaced relation, converge the cartons to a loading point, and then progress the loaded cartons divergently through a cover-closing operation.

' Still another object of the invention is to provide a device which simultaneously will bend back the covers of three cartons, deliver these cartons in adjacent relation to a point of loading where three dozen eggs may be loaded in the three cartons simultaneously, and then simultaneously close the covers of the three cartons while in spaced relation.

These and other objects will be evident'upon a consideration of the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a top View of the portion of the device to which empty cartons are delivered;

Fig. 2\ is a top view of the intermediate or loading portion of the device;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the delivery end of the device at which the covers of cartons are closed;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the delivery end of the Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along line |IIl of Fig. 3;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along line l2-l2 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken l3l3 of Fig. 4;

along line Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view showing the steps of operation on egg cartons;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view'of the type of carton upon which the mechanism may operate;

'Fig. 16 is a perspective view of an egg case, partly broken away, and illustrates the removal of one layer of eggs therefrom; and

Fig. 17 illustrates the loading of the eggs removed from the case into three adjacent cartons.

For many years it has been customary to pack eggs in cellular cartons of the type having front and rear walls, a bottom, cross partitions hinged to the front and rear Walls by triangular hinge portions, and a cover having a cover-locking strip which may be folded over and engaged beneath the hinges of the cross partitions to lock the cover in position. A popular carton of this type is described in Reissue Patent 18,922, dated August 22, 1933. Cartons of this type may be closed by the device described in Burger Patent 1,994,241. The present invention is an improvement over devices of the type described in the Burger patent and utilizes many features thereof.

In accordance with the present invention three adjacent cartons are passed through a cover opening portion of the machine and then brought into adjacent relation in which the three cartons are simultaneously filled. Thereafter the adjacent cartons are passed divergently to a coverclosing portion of the machine which delivers the cartons in a condition ready to be packed.

In order to explain the invention reference will be made to the carton shown in the Troyk reissue patent, No. 18,922. As shown in Fig. 15, this carton consists of a cover-locking strip I0 having cover-locking hooks II, a cover l2, a rear wall l3, an inverted V-shaped bottom portion M, a front wall I5, and the transverse partitions l6 hinged to the front and rear walls by means of the integral hinges H.

The machine is provided with legs 20 and the L-shaped side brace members 2|, as shown in Fig. 6. On the top of the legs 20 is mounted a base plate 22.

At the central portion of the device there are provided the downwardly extending brace members 23, the lower end of these brace members being attached to the L-shaped side brace members 2|. The adjustable rods 24 pass beneath an intermediate portion of the brace members 23 as shown in Fig. 10 and are secured to the plate 22 at points remote from the brace members, thereby afiording supportfor the central portion of the machine.

Beneath the front end of the machine there is provided a support beam 25. This member extends inwardly beneath the bed plate 22 from the outer edges thereof, then downwardly and across the center of the bed plate to provide a lower support bar from which extend the vertical rods 26. The rods 26 support a platform 21 upon which the central portion of the bed plate rests. The outer wings of the brace member 25 are welded or otherwise secured to the under side of the bed plate 22, the relation of these elements being indicated in Fig. 8.

A second brace member similar in shape to the brace member 25 is provided in the position shown in Fig. 6, this brace member and its relation to the bed plate being indicated more particularly in Fig. 9. The brace 26 has the spaced, upstanding posts 36 supporting the inner ends of the outer sections of the bed plate 22. A central post 3| extends upwardly from the brace member 29 and supports the inner section of the bed plate 22, as shown in Fig. 9.

Other brace members 32 and 33 are positioned along the machine and each is provided with the upwardly extending supports 36 and a central post 3| for supporting the inner ends of the bed plate and the central portion of the bed plate, respectively. The central portion of the bed plate 22 is connected to the post 3| by plate 34, and a longitudinally extending brace member 35 is positioned on the under side of the central portion of plate 22 between the posts 3|, as will be seen in Figs. 9 and 10.

Extending lengthwise of the bed plate 22 on one side thereof is a U-shaped channel member 36, the opening of which faces the central portion of the machine. On the other side of the machine there is a similar U-shaped channel member 31. Channel member 36 carries a. track 38 and channel member 31 carries a track 39. These tracks support conveyor chains 46 which run the entire length of the machine through the channel members 36 and 31. On the delivery end of the machine conveyor chains 46 pass about the similarly positioned sprockets 4|, one of which is shown in Fig. 6. The sprockets 4| are located on each side of the machine adjacent the channel members 36 and 31, and are rotatably mounted in bearing members 42 which are secured to the bed plate 22. The return flight of the chain 46 is provided by means of tracks 43 supported by the L-shaped brace members 2|, as shown in Fig. 10.

The conveyor chains have secured therebetween a series of spaced conveyor bars 44 which pass about the ends of the bed plate 22 and travel along the upper portion thereof from the feed end of the machine adjacent sprocket 4| to the discharge end of the conveyor. At the delivery end of the conveyor the chains 46 pass about sprockets 45, one of which is shown in Fig. 4. Sprockets 45 are positioned on opposite sides of the machine and are supported by bearing members 46, one of which is shown in Fig. 4. The bearing members 46 are secured to the underside of the bed plate 22 adjacent the channel members 36 and 31. The two sprockets 45 are rigidly connected by a shaft 41 which is driven by any suitable conventional mechanism (not shown).

The conveyor mechanism is operative to push egg cartons along the bed plate from the feed end of the machine indicated in Fig. 1 through the intermediate portion of the device indicated in Fig. 2 and through the discharge end of the mechanism indicated in Fig. 3. At the feed end of the machine empty cartons are inserted in the outer lane 56, the intermediate lane 5|, and the other outer lane 52. These lanes are separated by the raised bars 53 and 54. When positioned in the loading lanes the empty cartons are in adjacent relation and in the position indicated in Fig. 15. In this position the cover of the carton extends in substantially vertical position, since the score line between the cover and the rearwall of the carton'has not been broken. The carton in lane 56 is indicated in Fig. 14 at A, the carton in the intermediate lane 5| is indicated at B, and the carton in the other outer lane 52 is indicated at C. In Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic illustration of the various operations through which the cartons pass in being conveyed from one end of the machine to the other. The conveyor bars 44 progress the cartons A, B and C from their initial positions through-the three lanes indicated. Lane 56 and lane 52 immediately diverge from lane 5|. The lanes 56 eflect this divergence by means of the guide bars 55 and 56. The guide rods 55 and 56 are supported by the upstanding bar 51 shown in Figs. 1 and 7. A second upstanding support bar 58, the construction of which is shown in Fig. 8, also supports the bars 55 and 56. The inner section of support bar 58 is joined by a second support bar 59 which extends to the opposite side of the machine but at a lower level.

The lane 5| is directly along the center of the machine. Guide bars 53 and 54 are supported by the brace member 51 by means of the strap 66 which extends from the rod 53 up to the brace member 51 and then down to the guide member 55. The guide member 54 is supported by the brace 51 by means of a strap 6| which extends upwardly and then downwardly. Guide bar 54 also is supported by the brace member 59 by means of the downwardly extending strap 62, as shown in Fig. 8.

The lane 52 diverges from the central lane 5| and is marked by the guide bars .63 and 64.-

Guide bar 63 is supp rted to the outer leg of the strap 6|, as shown in Fig. '7, and the guide bar 64 is supported by the channel member 36.

In order to impart rigidity to the strap 6| a cross member 65 may be employed to join its lower edges. A similar cross member 66 may be employed to join the lower edges of the strap 66.

The function of the apparatus adjacent the feed end is to diverge the cartons from their adjacent relation and to bend the covers of the cartons outwardly and downwardly adjacent the rear wall. In the lane 52 the mechanism for performing this function includes a cover guide rod 61 which is operative to flex the cover of the carton backwardlyand downwardly until it enters the cover-receiving opening 68 in the bed plate. A guide rod 69 is positioned in advance of the strap 6| to prevent jamming of the machine by the accidental engagement of the cover with the strap. As a carton progresses through the lane 52 it is diverged from the central lane 5| and its cover is bent backwardly and downwardly into the opening 68. Then the carton is in the position shown in Fig. 8. A giude rod 16 extends from the support member 51 along the lane 52 and engages the edge of the carton to prevent it from being displaced during the cover rotating operation, the operation of the guide member 16 being indicated in Figs. '7 and 8. After the cover of the carton C has been depressed into the opening 68 in lane 52 and as the carton progresses along the lane the carton again is converged toward the center of the machine, the cover of the carton traveling along and extending through the opening 68.

As the carton B is progressed along lane by the conveyor its cover engages the coverfolding guide bar 1| and this guide bar rotates the cover outwardly and downwardly into the entrance portion of the longitudinally extending opening I2. To prevent jamming of the machine by accidental engagement of the cover with the strap 68 there is provided a cover guide bar I3 which is similar to the guide bar 69. An overhanging guide bar I4 extends adjacent the guide bar 54 and prevents dislodgement of the carton when the cover is rotated backwardly by the bar II. The guide bar I4 is secured to the sameend of the strap BI that supports the guide bar 54, as indicated in Fig. '7.

As the conveyor bar 44 engages the end of a carton the lug I5 thereon engages the end of the carton in the manner illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, thereby preventing dislodgement of the carton from the lane 5|.

It will be seen that the covers of cartons B and C are rotated outwardly and downwardly at about the same position in the machine and that these cartons progress together with their covers folded in downwardly extending vertical position.

Carton A is progressed divergently along lane 58 by the conveyor and the cross partitions adjacent the cover slide beneath the guide bar Hi, this guide bar being suspended from the strap 68 by arm 11, as shown in Fig. 7. The opposite end of the guide bar I8 is supported by an arm 18 which is suspended from the bracket 58. In order to prevent accidental engagement of the cover of carton A with the vertical side of bracket 58 there is provided a guide rod I9 which maintains the cover of carton A in the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

The carton A then is converged toward carton B after the cover of the latter has been rotated downwardly and the cover of carton A is engaged by the cover guide rod 88 which extends transversely across the lane 58 and bends the cover of carton A into horizontal outwardly extending position, as shown in Fig. 9. The rod 88 is secured to guide member 53, as shown in Fig. 1. A guide bar 8i engages the tops of the cross partitions of the carton, as shown in Fig. 9, to prevent dislodgement of the carton when its cover is rotated into horizontal position. A relatively low bracket 82 extends upwardly from channel members 38 and 31 and across the machine to provide support for the carton guide bars 53 and 8|, these bars being secured to member 82 by means of a downwardly depending .arm 83.

The support bracket 82 carries an auxiliary bracket 88 through which passes a flexible wire 85. the end of the wire being provided with a stop and a spring between the stop and bracket 84. A pulley 86 guides the wire 85 along the path of travel of carton C in lane 52, as the carton passes from beneath the guide rod 18. The opposite end of the wire 85 is secured to a stationary bracket 81, as shown in Fig. 18. It will be understood that the wire 85 provides a. flexible means for retaining the carton C in lane 52 against dislodgement. Thus, carton C is retained by the wire 85 and carton B is retained against dislodgement by the lugs I5 on the conveyor.

From the position shown in Fig. 9 cartons A,

B and C are progressed in convergent relationship through the portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5. The cover of cartonA passes between guide rods 88 and 89. .These rods are carried by brackets 88 which are secured to the inwardly extending support members ii. The support members 8| are mounted on the channel member 31 and carry on their inner ends a guide bar 82 which retains the carton A in the position shown in Fig. 10. v

On the side oi. the machine adjacent channel member 36 is mounted a side plate 83, upon the inner end of which is carried acarton guide member 84, indicated in Fig. 10, the guide 84 maintaining carton C in the position shown in Fig. 10. The bracket 81 to which wire is attached is mounted on the end of plate 98, as shown in Fig. 2.

It is to be noted that cartons A, B and C progress along the portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2 in adjacent relation with their covers open. In this position the three cartons are loaded simultaneously with three dozen eggs. This operation is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 14. Eggs normally are packed in cases in which three dozen eggs are contained in each layer. The loading operation is effected by lifting one layer of three dozen eggs held in a celluby the fork being placed over the three opened cartons and the fork withdrawn so that the eggs may slip from the cells of the filler in which they were originally packed into the cells of the carton. In practice, this method of loading has proven to be highly satisfactory.

The method of operating the loading station is indicated in Figs. 16 and 17. In Fig. 16 is shown an egg case of the type holding thirty dozen eggs in layers of three dozen each. A fork I88 of the type shown in Fig. 17 is inserted between adjacent layers of eggs in the manner illustrated in Fig. 16 and the layer of eggs above the fork is lifted oil and placed above the three opened cartons in the manner shown in Fig. 1'7. The fork then is withdrawn and the eggs fall into place in the opened carton. The filler MI and the flat I82 then are removed from the carton to complete the loading operation. This method is quite rapid and avoids the handling that normally is necessary in filling an individual carton.

From the loading portion of the device indicated in Fig. 5 the loaded cartons again are diverged by being progressed through the portion of the device shown in Fig. 3.

A transversely extending bracket I83 rests upon the channel members 38 and 31. Adjacent lane 58 the bracket I83 carries an outwardly diverging carton guide bar I84 and a corresponding outwardly diverging guide member I85 for the opposite side of the carton A. After passing beneath the bracket I83 the cover of carton A is released and assumes the position shown in Fig. 12. The end of guide'member I84 is secured by means of bracket I86 to the channel member 31.

The lane 5i is provided with a guide member I81 which also is secured to bracket I 83.

Lane 52 is provided with a guide bar I88 secured to bracket I83 and to the channel member 36, as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 11.

The slots 88 and I2 diverge in the manner shown in Fig. 3 to cause the carton C to move outwardly with respect to the carton B. Guide members I84 and I85 cause the carton A also to move outwardly with respect to carton B. The terminal portions of openings 58 and 12 are enlarged sufllciently, as shown in Fig. 3, to allow the covers of cartons B and C to rotate upwardly when these enlarged openings are reached as the cartons travel along lanes 5I and 52. It is preferred to employ the side guide portions I and H0, respectively, for lanes M and 52, so that the cartons are maintained in proper position in the lanewhen the covers rotate upwardly. v

At this point each of the three cartons has its cover rotated somewhat upwardly due to the natural tendency of the paperboard from which the cartons are constructed to go back to its original position. This position may be substantially as shown by the carton A in Fig. 12.

Extending across the spaced lanes adjacent the discharge end of the device are the raised brackets III and II2.- These brackets carry substantially duplicate cover-closing mechanism which simultaneously closes and locks the covers of the three cartons.

In lane 50 there is provided a longitudinally extending guide bar H3 which rides along the upper edge of channel member 31, as shown in Fig. 13. From the bracket II'I there depends an inverted U-shaped strap H4. A guide member H5 is secured to the outer leg of the strap H4 and this guide member engages the inner wall of carton Am the lane 50. A cover guide bar H5 prevents the machine from jamming by accidentally engaging the downwardly extending leg of the bracket III. A second cover guide member H1 is carried by the bracket III and acts to rotate the cover carton A toward closed position, as shown in Fig. 13.

From the guide member H there extends across the carton a transverse arm H5, from the outer end of which is mounted a guide member .I I9, this guidemember engaging the upper portion of the cross partitions of the carton in the manner shown in Fig. 13 to retain the carton against dislodgement during the cover-closing operation. A second support rod I also extends from the guide member H5 across the carton and in engagement with the guide member H9.

As carton A passes beneath the bracket III the cover is rotated toward closed position by the cover guide member Hl. Bracket I 2I extends upwardly from the guide member H3 and supports the cover guide member I II. The coverlocking section of the top of the carton passes beneath the guide element I22 which is secured to the inner face of the guide member H5.

An additional bracket I23 extends from the guide member I I3 into connection with the guide member H1 adjacent the bracket II2 to ailord end support for the guide memberl Il.

An inner cover guide member I24 extends from the guide member H5 adjacent the guide member I22, so that the cover-locking strip may be bent into vertical positionthereabout. The guide members I22 and I24 bend the cover-locking strip into a position which will permit the hooks thereon to be depressed beneath the triangular hinges adjacent the front wall of the carton. The guide member Ill and the terminal portion I25 thereon depress the free edge of the cover downwardly so that the hooks on the cover-locking strip engage beneath the cross partitions to complete the closure of the carton. The free end I25 of the guide member III has a roller I26 which rotates along the top of the carton adjacent the front side,

support bracket H2 and carries a guide member I28 which engages the top of the cover adjacent the rear wall as the carton is pressed through the closing guide.

The closure elements for lanes 5| and 52 are identical with the-closure elements forlane 50, and have been provided with the same numerals. The cover-closing elements largely involve the principles of operation described in the Burger patent to which reference has been made.

By way of summary of the operation of the machine, three empty cartons with raised covers are inserted in adjacent relation in lines 50, 5| and 52. 'These cartons then are progressed by the conveying mechanism through the positions diagrammatically indicated, in Fig, 14 in which carton B follows a central line while cartons A and C initially are diverged therefrom for a cover-opening operation. After the covers of the cartons are opened into the position shown in Fig. 1'1 the cartons are brought into adjacent relation and simultaneously loaded with eggs. Thereafter the cartons again are diverged and the covers are rotated into upright position. The

final operation of the device includes closing the covers and locking them with the cross partitions of the carton, Only three operators are required. One operator loads the empty cartons into the lanes, another operator loads the cartons at the intermediate station and another operator disposes of the loaded and closed cartons passing from the discharge end of the machine.

The operations are so simple and rapid that the three operators can load a great many more cartons than possible with the methods and devices known heretofore.

It will be recognized that a great many changes may be made in the particular structure described herein without departing from the scope ofthe invention as defined by theappended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the type described, comprising a conveyor for moving cartons; carton guide means for providing three lanes which are spaced,

- then converge, and then diverge; means for rotating the covers of cartons into open position in said lanes while spaced; and means for closing the covers of said cartons in the diverged portions of said lanes.

2. Apparatus of the type described, comprising a relatively wide bed plate, a conveyor running longitudinally of the bed plate and adapted to move a plurality of cartons longitudinally thereof in varying transverse positions, carton guide means operable to diverge a plurality of cartons, means for rotating the covers of said cartons to downwardly extending vertical position, said bed plate having relatively large openings for receipt of said covers and relatively narrow openings communicating therewith along the path of travel of said conveyor, means for guiding said cartons into adjacent position, carton-diverging guide means adjacent relatively large openings in said bed plate for release of said covers, and meansior closing said covers.

3. Apparatus oi the type described, comprising a bed portion, a conveyor operative to progress a plurality of cartons longitudinally of said bed portion, means for diverging said cartons during progress along said conveyor, means for rotating the covers of said cartons into downwardly extending vertical position, and carton guide means for bringing said cartons into adjacent relation.

4. Apparatus of the type described, comprising a bed plate having spaced carton cover-receiving openings extending from relatively wide portions convergently and then divergently to additional relatively wide portions, means for progressing cartons along said bed plate, means for rotating the covers of cartons into said first named relatively wide portion and for guiding said cartons along said openings into convergent relation and then into divergent relation to said last named relatively large openings.

5. Apparatus of the type described, comprisl0 

